travelingourmand

Hi everyone

I will be a single woman first timer to Thailand in early to mid May and would love feedback.

BKK for 3 nights/2 days over a weekend (for the weekend market!) Thinking of staying at the Majestic Suites for the location.

Fly to BKK to Phuket for 4 days (Or Koh Samui? Weather thoughts?)

Fly BKK to Chiang Mai for 3 nights over a weekend, also for the market.

Bus to Chiang Rai for a day/night then back to CM for 1 more night.

Then I'll decide what to do from there, if I go to Viet/Cambodia or not. Bali will come after.

Is Malaysia worth a couple of days? Food and shopping interest me most! I'll probably fly via Kuala Lumpur if I take Air Asia which is why I'm thinking of this stop.

Thanks so much.

Susie

Gpanda

TG-I would not backtrack to CM after Chiang Rai. You can fly to BKK from CR. The weather will dictate a choice between Phuket and Ko Samui. Check weatherbase.com for average monthly rainfall.

KimJapan

How much time to you have in total?

You can save a bit of time and not backtrack by flying this way.

BKK - Chiang Rai (CEI) first, then over land to Chiang Mai. I would stay 3 nights in the Golden Triangle area (or more) and at least 3 nights in Chiang Mai.

If you want to go to Cambodia, do this before going up to Chiang Rai, flying Bangkok Air to Siem Reap, or Air Asia to Phnom Penh. Give a minimum of 3 full days (meaning 4 nights) in Siem Reap.

Chiang Mai (CNX) to Phuket...nonstop on Thai Air once a day, or nonstop to Samui on Bangkok Air. Samui is historically drier. http://thailandforvisitors.com/south/phukvsam.html

Phuket to Kuala Lumpur on Air Asia. Spend at least a couple on nights there. From Samui, you would have to fly Bangkok Air, but you could fly to Singapore and connect to Bali from there. Jetstar from Singapore to Bali is affordable.

Kuala Lumpur to Bali. I could spend at least a month in Bali, more if I had time, so give it as much time as possible.

If you have limited time, I would go to either Thailand or Bali, but not both.

rhkkmk

trying to go too many places in too short a time, imo...

MichaelBKK

Actually, from Samui you can fly MAS's new budget carrier, Firefly, to Penang, which is a much easier place to get around than KL (not that KL is without its charms).

I wouldn't waste time doing both Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. As it seems you're interested in shopping, I would stay in Chiang Mai.

May is not the best time for beaches in Thailand. I would consider saving some money and spending your beach time around Hua Hin instead of flying to either Phuket or Samui.

rickpires

Hi Everyone

I'm going to Phuket in May and i'll stay in Asian for 35 days, after i'll came back to Brazil. I'd like to know whish places and countries everyone would be interesting to visit...
My favourites are thailand, camboja, vietam and china

travelingourmand

Hi,

This is all so helpful! I have a month total and am going to Bali for sure to stay with a friend. I was thinking of spending 2 weeks in Thailand/other nearby countries then 2 in Bali..mainly because I want to "hang out" and have a very relaxed travel schedule there.

That's an interesting idea to skip the famous Thai beaches - but it would give me a reason to return later.

I was going to book at Baan Orapin in Chiang Mai but do you have another recommendation? I like an easy walk to town, safe, clean, and a price below US$50 ideally. Baan Orapin looks nice because of the character of the hotel.

Kathie

So if you have two weeks in the Thailand area, followed by two weeks in Bali, I'd recommend just three locations in the Thailand area. I'd skip the beaches, since you'll have beach time in Bali. Asia lends itself best to slow travel. Spending two days here and two days there will give you lots of opportunity to look at airports, but not much else.

Bangkok is a amazing city with lots to see and do. Are you at all interested in visiting the temples at Angkor? If so, this is your opportunity. You'll want a minimum of three full days in Siem Reap. You've mentioned you want to see northern Thailand, so you could choose CHiang Mai or CHaing Rai. OFten people think they are seeing rural Thailand when they go north. Chaing Mai is Thailand's second largest city, so it's relly another urban center. if you are interested in a view of a small town in SE Asia, let me recommend Luang Prabang, Laos. It's a lovely place, with beautiful wats, slow and quiet, a very different expeience from your other locales. If you opt for Bangkok, Siem Reap and Luang Prabang, you can get the Bangkok Air Discovery pass and save some money on airfares.

Vietnam and Malaysia are both countries with lots to offer, but you really don't have the time this trip.

If you opt to go to Chaing Mai, Baan Orrapin is probably the best option in your price range.

travelingourmand

Does anyone recommend visiting Kuala Lumpur? I may decide to take Air Asia which often goes through there so I was thinking of spending a day. Thanks again.

Kathie

I've been to KL several times. It's a pleasant city. But you have limited time and in a day or two you'll just get a glimpse. You'll want to concentrate your time in a few places so you get a real flavor of a place. Save KL for another trip.